Page 54 of Entwined With You

“Back then, I didn’t believe that.”

“Back then?”

“For about two years. I was hurt and scared and young. And then I started to wonder. I don’t remember what changed, but it did. I missed you, but it was more than that. But there was no Braxton Reed out there. Not one who was under the age of sixty. So I thought that either meant you were dead or that you really had planted the bomb, and didn’t want to use a tainted name that we’d chosen together.”

“I didn’t use it at first because of you. It was too painful. You were dead, after all.”

“But later you did.”

He nodded. “When I entered the FBI Academy. They knew about my entire past, and I told them we’d already put the paper work in place.” He shrugged. “So that’s when I became Brax.”

“I ran a search about every six months. That name and all the others on our list. At first I only found the record we set up. But then I finally found more. Credit cards and tax returns and a drivers license. So I found you after all.”

“And you came here as your twin sister to what? Punish me?”

She licked her lips. “I wanted to learn the truth. I wanted to learn that you didn’t really do that to me.”

“I didn’t.”

“I believe you,” she said. “And I’m sorry. Please, Brax. Can’t you understand? Can’t you forgive me?”

But all he could do was look her in the eye, shake his head, and say, very simply, “No.”

For a moment she just sat there. Then she nodded. “I’ll get my stuff and go.”

“No.” The force and speed of the protest surprised him. “We’re in the middle of a job. They think we’re a couple. We’re not changing a damn thing. Except that I’m not touching you again except for show, and then only when it’s absolutely necessary.”

She bit her lower lip, then whispered, “I understand.”

“You can sleep on the couch,” he said. Then he stood and went back to his bedroom, shutting the door. And then, just so she’d hear the click, he locked it, too.

He didn’t sleep. How could he? He was too damn broken. So when his alarm chimed at eight, he got up and stumbled out of the bedroom to make coffee.

She was gone. All that remained was a note saying that she had to go to work, but so long as he intended to keep up the pretense, she’d be back.

The worst part was that she signed the note, Love, Brina.

He crumpled it up, then threw it away.

Chapter Fifteen

Brax had already called Ryan to set up an early-morning meeting, and he was throwing on a suit when the doorbell chimed. He muttered a curse—he was already later than he’d intended, and he had no interest in dealing with his landlord or someone looking to sell him something at the moment.

He ignored the chime, finished getting dressed, then headed into his living room.

Then stopped when he saw the woman sipping coffee by his breakfast bar.

“What the fuck, Cami? Don’t you knock?”

“Don’t you answer?”

“Right. Sorry.” He drew a breath as he made a beeline for the coffee pot. “I’m a little bit frazzled.”

She looked him up and down. “No shit. Want me to frazzle you some more?”

He’d been pouring with his back to her. Now he turned, concerned by something in the tone of her voice. “What’s going on?”

“Oh, not much. Just that your new girlfriend happens to also be your old one.”